Trading Tools

  • The Dow Has Given Back All Its 2014 Gains – Do You Care?

    All trades result from a disagreement.  Someone wants to buy, while someone else wants to sell.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average has given back all 2014 gains.

     

    140807 Dow Daily

     

    So, is that a major trend-line break to sell?  Or, is it a buying opportunity?

     

    140807 Dow Weekly

     

    It is a matter of perspective.  What matters is what happens next.

  • The Dow Has Given Back All Its 2014 Gains – Do You Care?

    All trades result from a disagreement.  Someone wants to buy, while someone else wants to sell.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average has given back all 2014 gains.

     

    140807 Dow Daily

     

    So, is that a major trend-line break to sell?  Or, is it a buying opportunity?

     

    140807 Dow Weekly

     

    It is a matter of perspective.  What matters is what happens next.

  • Half the Word’s Population Lives in 6 Countries

    As of this month, the world’s population is now 7.2 billion.

    According to U.N. data, half of the people around the globe (3.6 billion) live in just a half-dozen countries. China has the world’s largest population (1.4 billion), followed by India (1.3 billion). The next most-populous nations – the United States, Indonesia, Brazil and Pakistan – combined have less than 1 billion people.

     

    140807 Half the World's Population Lives in 6 Countries

    via Pew Research.

     

    The demographic future for the U.S. and the world looks very different than the recent past.

    For example, the U.N. projects that during this century, the number of people living to at least age 100 will increase more than 100-fold, from 181,000 in the year 2000 to over 20 million in the year 2100.

  • Which Markets Did Best In the First Half of the Year?

    There is always something working.  It still surprises me how often it changes.

    For example, take a look at Coffee's rise.

    The chart below shows the top-and-bottom performing markets so far this year.  The data is color coded based on sector. The first column shows year-to-date performance, followed by six columns of the most recent yearly market performances.

    Click the image to jump to the full chart.

     

    140802 First Half of 2014 and Yearly Market Performance

      

    Click this link to view weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly views of this data.

    So, how does that compare to other markets around the world? Here is an interactive chart to answer that question.

  • Which Markets Did Best In the First Half of the Year?

    There is always something working.  It still surprises me how often it changes.

    For example, take a look at Coffee's rise.

    The chart below shows the top-and-bottom performing markets so far this year.  The data is color coded based on sector. The first column shows year-to-date performance, followed by six columns of the most recent yearly market performances.

    Click the image to jump to the full chart.

     

    140802 First Half of 2014 and Yearly Market Performance

      

    Click this link to view weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly views of this data.

    So, how does that compare to other markets around the world? Here is an interactive chart to answer that question.

  • More S&P 500 Stocks Above Their 50-Day Averages than NASDAQ Stocks

    As shown below, 75% of the stocks in the S&P 500 are currently trading above their 50-day moving averages. 

     

    140720 Percent of SP500 Stocks above 50 Day Average

    via Bespoke.

    This indicator has been trending slightly downward for about a month now, but it hasn't fallen below the 75% mark for quite some time.  Generally, whenever this breadth reading gets above the 80% level, the market is due for a breather.

    In contrast, less than 50% of NASDAQ stocks are above their 200-day moving averages.

    According to Martin Pring, that means that relatively few stocks are participating in the rally, and an even lower number are registering new highs. Moreover, there are currently slightly more stocks at new 52-week lows than highs, even though the NASDAQ is very close to its bull market high
  • More S&P 500 Stocks Above Their 50-Day Averages than NASDAQ Stocks

    As shown below, 75% of the stocks in the S&P 500 are currently trading above their 50-day moving averages. 

     

    140720 Percent of SP500 Stocks above 50 Day Average

    via Bespoke.

    This indicator has been trending slightly downward for about a month now, but it hasn't fallen below the 75% mark for quite some time.  Generally, whenever this breadth reading gets above the 80% level, the market is due for a breather.

    In contrast, less than 50% of NASDAQ stocks are above their 200-day moving averages.

    According to Martin Pring, that means that relatively few stocks are participating in the rally, and an even lower number are registering new highs. Moreover, there are currently slightly more stocks at new 52-week lows than highs, even though the NASDAQ is very close to its bull market high
  • What’s The Biggest Business In Your State?

    Obviously, business effects the economy of states. But, as the Washington Post notes,  businesses are not created equally – bigger businesses naturally have outsized influence, generating more revenue, paying more taxes and employing more people.

    The following chart shows the largest company, by revenue, in each state.  Some of these seem like easy guesses.  For example: GM in Michigan, ExxonMobil in Texas, Berkshire Hathaway in  Nebraska, Nike in Oregon, Walmart in Arkansas, and FedEx in Tennesse.

    140703 Largest-Company-By-Rev-In-Each-State-2014

    via Washington Post.

    But some of the others were surprising.  For  example, in Washington (home of Microsoft and Amazon), it is CostCo. Equally surprising, to me, was Verizon in New York, and Chevron in California.

  • What’s The Biggest Business In Your State?

    Obviously, business effects the economy of states. But, as the Washington Post notes,  businesses are not created equally – bigger businesses naturally have outsized influence, generating more revenue, paying more taxes and employing more people.

    The following chart shows the largest company, by revenue, in each state.  Some of these seem like easy guesses.  For example: GM in Michigan, ExxonMobil in Texas, Berkshire Hathaway in  Nebraska, Nike in Oregon, Walmart in Arkansas, and FedEx in Tennesse.

    140703 Largest-Company-By-Rev-In-Each-State-2014

    via Washington Post.

    But some of the others were surprising.  For  example, in Washington (home of Microsoft and Amazon), it is CostCo. Equally surprising, to me, was Verizon in New York, and Chevron in California.

  • Across the world, the number of people who say the economic situation in their country is “bad” is climbing

    Across the world, the number of people who say the economic situation in their country is “bad” is climbing — despite the much-vaunted recovery we all keep hearing about from politicians.

      
    140628 Is the Economic Situation In Your Country Bad

     
    via Grant Williams.

    The stock market is not the economy, and vice versa … but when you are interested in one, it doesn't hurt to pay attention to the other.